Monthly Archives: May 2009

Flash Fiction – Momma stopped singing on a sweat-sticky day.

The pump handle gives too easy, Tommy scoops some water from the bucket to prime it. Resistance is sweet, cool, Tommy lets the first stream of water pour over his hand and wipes his face, tasting a faint metallic edge. The second pump fills the pitcher half way up. “Comin’,” Tommy yells. Uncle Ed has been miserable all summer long.

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You Can Get Married – Wait – No, You Can’t – But Wait

I can only imagine how confusing it is to live in a state that gives rights and takes them back. My job is easy here, if the couple has a license issued by the state, I can marry them, if not, I can do a commitment ceremony but the couple will not have all of the rights, protections and privileges that come with the license. As an ordained minister, my hands are not tied by a Higher Power, my hands are tied by the voters.

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My Visit to Hospital Hill – Calling all Germs!

The rise in personal cell phone use has made the public phone obsolete. And seriously, using a public phone in a place where people have health issues may not have been a good idea, anyway. The little enclosure is still there next to the handicap accessible water fountain and above a trash container. I’d advise steering clear of the water fountain and you know why! Soon, it will be obsolete because we carry the bottled stuff. Use the trash can with care not to actually touch it, but if you do touch, don’t worry, ‘Hospital Hill’ has you covered.
If you look closely at the photo I uploaded from my Smartphone, scrubbed free of germ bodies, and you will see that the hospital has installed a hand-sanitizer dispenser where the pay phone used to be. I also noticed and made my family use the hand-sanitizer located at the second floor elevator entry.
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Montana has Two Seasons – Winter and July

Every year about this time, our quaking aspens grow leaves seemingly overnight and having leaves they begin to quake. The plum bush out front begins to bud and while the lilacs and roses seem slow they too begin to stretch and yawn and tease me with remembered color and smells.
Every year I begin to prepare to garden knowing full well that we have only 90 frost free days here and they don’t necessarily come in a row. Yesterday, I went to the store and bought some cheap garden gloves, I always loose last year’s pair. I also bought a garden hat. I went for straw again, this year crocheted straw, and floppy.
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High Fences and Constitutional Writes

We express ourselves for many reasons. To persuade, defend, entertain, empower and in many cases, we write, just because we can. Expression is part of our ‘constitutional rights’ in the U.S. People enjoy protection of those rights, or writes.
My childhood was very functional and that means I was very adaptive. I could see this relative’s point about unions and that one’s point about toilet taxes and when the conversation called for it, I could sit on the fence with the best of them.
I don’t see the world in black and white, good and evil, hot and cold or high and low. I do have integrity and stick by what I think is right and just. As long as I don’t have to compromise my own ethics I can be persuaded and even bullied into falling on one side of the fence or the other.
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Answering the Call – Cell Phones and Tin Cans

The frustrating thing about having a cell phone is that the darned thing goes off pretty much at random. Just because I have a phone, doesn’t mean I am going to answer it. My family knows this and will assume I check my call history at my convenience and I’ll get back to them.

My children know that if their heads are on fire, or they’ve lost an arm, I am not the best person to call. If it is urgent, they can follow a call with a text message or as it has been known to happen, track me down in person, tap me on the head and tell me to answer the phone.

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Creature Comforts – A Quiet Turtle Who Kept to Herself

I know our turtle has favorite foods, crickets for sport, worms for getting fat and veggies on an off day. I know she likes a good swim in a shoebox shaped Tupperware tub to help her get her bowels moving. I know she likes her basking light.

Other than the creature comforts, this is a turtle who is generally quiet, the neighbor who keeps to herself. A turtle you’d feel comfortable with if you needed directions or a short ride with an empty gas can.

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Onion News Network does Graphic Dreams

Warning – Adult Content and Graphic Everything

The following link will lead you to an online video. It is not for the faint of connection. If you have a phone connection this is not the link for you. If you are using a cell phone, it all depends on your software. If you are faint of heart, don’t go any further.

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Andrea Yates, Octo-Mom, Caylee Anthony and the Vole Problem In Montana

On a more newsworthy note, it has been a great winter for voles in Montana. If you have vole trails and small mouse-ish creatures eyeing you, a farm cat it your best bet. I saw a lot of cats for adoption this week while my service dog and I were taking our public access test.

I am sure the cats would love a good vole hunt. They would like new humans to love and shelter them in return.

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Swine Flu a Case for Social Distancing

Just before you panic, and panic is not recommended by the CDC, try a little Social Distancing. This practice of staying home if you feel sick, not shaking hands and compulsive hand washing was practiced during the flu pandemic in 1918. Considering the huge death toll, I do question the effectiveness of this technique, but, still, if you are well enough to be out and about, don’t be out there randomly shaking hands, hugging or otherwise engaging in germ spreading behaviors. Carry the hand sanitizer in your pocket or purse and use it, often.
Social Distancing is a good idea, at least for now, and always use protection if you do find yourself in a germ sharing situation. The CDC has regular updates. Please comment, add your tips on avoiding illnesses. Continue reading

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